title: Prevalence of sensitization to Alternaria in allergic patients in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The actual prevalence of sensitization to Alternaria is not known, partly due to the unreliability of diagnostic extracts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess skin positivity to extracts of Alternaria in a wide population of Italian patients suffering from respiratory symptoms using a biologically standardized extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2942 patients were skin prick tested with Alternaria, and a panel of common inhalant allergens. Blood samples for specific IgE quantitation were taken both from patients positive and from patients negative (control group) to Alternaria extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred six patients (10.4%, ranging from 1.8% in Turin to 29.3% in Cagliari) were positive to Alternaria; 37 were sensitized to only this mold, while the remaining 269 were sensitized to at least one other allergen. Of the Alternaria-positive patients, 79.7% suffered from rhinitis and 53.3% from asthma, either alone or associated with other symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that, at least in Italy and in countries with similar climatic and environmental situations, standardized Alternaria extract should be included in the panel commonly used in investigating the allergen responsible in patients suffering from respiratory allergy.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione, S. Maugeri, IRCCS, Montescano, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corsico
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cinti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Feliziani
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Gallesio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liccardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loreti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lugo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marcucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marcer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meriggi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gherson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Negrini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Passaleva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pozzan
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venuti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zerboni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000528:Alternaria / Q000276:immunology*; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007073:Immunoglobulin E